Door construction



Feb. 10, 1953 c. w, KELLY DooRaoNsTRUcTIoN Filed April 4, 1949 FIGA.

@sak /62 CLYDE W. KELLY FBGJO.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1953 DOOR CONSTRUCTION Clyde W. Kelly, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detroit Steel Products Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 4, 1949, Serial No. 85,383

(oi. en -35) 16 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to steel door construction, and more particularly to a combination of parts designed so that a wide variety of doors may be supplied from a relatively small numb-er of parts in stock.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a steel door construction in which the door has on opening therethrough provided with an inwardly facing groove extending completely around the opening in association with removable muntin bars so that the opening may be closed with a single pane of glass or with two or more panes of glass separated by muntin bars as desired.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of the door having an opening therein provided with muntin clips for supporting glass panes.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view line 2--2, Figure l.

on the Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3.-37, c

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section on the line r 9-9, Figure 8.

Figure 1'0 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line Ill-Ill, Figure 9. Figure 11 is a fragmentary front elevation showing two muntin b ars in crossing relation. y

Figure 12 is a section on the line I2`|2, Figure Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line |3-l3, Figure 12.

In order to reduce the number of parts carried in stock to supply a full line of door assemblies, the structure illustrated in Figures 1 through 13 is preferably provided. In Figure 1 there is illustrated a door having an opening 56 in its upper portion which opening is provided with a continuous inwardly facing glass or panel receiving groove extending completely thereabo-ut.

Referring first to Figures 2, 3 and 4 the vertical l groove provided in the stile 5I is'seen at'52 in Figure 3. At appropriate points at the bottom of f the groove 52 there are provid-ed openings 53v which present opposed shoulders spaced longitudinally of the groove for the reception of reduced extensions ci muntin clips later to be described. If it is desired to provide the opening 50 with a.

single transverse muntin bar 55, this bar is sup-.- ported in position by engagement with two holesy 53 located in the vertical grooves 52 provided in the door stiles 5|.

The muntin bar assemblies comprise the muntin bar proper which is illustrated at 51, and comprises a hollow bar portion 58 having a pair of laterally extending spaced apart flanges 59,

each of which is provided with an 'outwardlyformed detent' 66. v Slidably located within the bar 58 is the muntin bar clip 62 which comprises a main portion 63 tting snugly within the bar portion 58 of the muntin bar and slidably guided therein. The clip also comprises a laterally extending portion 65 which extends into the space between the anges 59. The portion 65 at one end is provided with a reduced extension 66, this extension 66 terminating .in a pair of iingers 61 which may be bent toward each other. The main portion 63 of the clip provides shoulders 68 which determine or limit movement of the clipoutwardly with respect to the muntin bar. Identical clips are of course provided at each end of the muntin.

bar.

To assemble Ythe muntin bar assembly 55 in position as illustrated in Figure 1, the bar assembly with thel clips 62 retracted so that their reduced extensions 66 do not project beyond the open ends of the muntin bars, is placed in posi'- tion between the stiles 5l. The muntin bar is designed so that it fits snugly between the stiles.

If preferred, one of the muntin bar clips may be in position so' that its reduced portion 66 extends beyond the end of the muntin bar at this time,`

` from the doors a pointed tool is inserted into the opening 69 and the muntin clip slid inwardly of the muntin bar to permit disengagement from the recesses o-f the door stiles.

' The muntin bar assembly is completed by a removable cover bar 'i illustrated in dotted lines still further in which case muntin bars I may be provided.

Referring now to Figures 8, 9 and 10, the intermediate rail 16 of the door is provided with a glass or panel receiving groove 11 which is provided between a metal bead 'I8' having a portion extending across the rail 16 and a closure stripy 8D provided with a lower flange 8| which snaps in place beneath the flange 19 as illustrated in Figure 9. In this case, it is not desirable to provide an opening through the upper surface of the rail i6 and instead, means are provided for engaging the lower end of the muntin bar clip by striking upwardly a pair of spaced ears. 82 and 83: in an intermediate portion of the transverse.. extending flange 79. Ears 82 and `B3 provide shoulders which are adapted to prevent shifting of themuntin bars longitudinally of the groove Ti; An equivalent construction is provided by the head rail 'I6'.

In this case, the muntin bar l5 is identical in cross section with the muntin bar 5l previously described, the muntin bar attaching clip is identical with the clip 52 previously described, and the removable muntin bar cover 86 is identical in cross section with the muntin bar cover Hl previously described.

Themuntin bars 'I5 each have one end secured in the glazing groove provided in the door rails and the opposite ends of the muntin bars 15 are supported in the horizontal muntin bar 55 in a l5; which engage the horizontal muntin bar 55 are each providedv with muntin bary attaching clips 32, each. of which, has a reduced extension. 93; adapted to be projected beyond the end of the muntin bar and into the glazingl grooves 1I and through theropenings 96 provided at the bottoms.

of such grooves. Preferably, andas indicated' in- Figure 13, the muntin bar attaching clips are forced into engagement with each other, and the resilient fingers 95 of one of the extensions willY intert between corresponding fingers of the other extension.

Inasmuch as the muntin bars 55 and 15 are readilyremovable as described above, a single door provided with an opening as illustrated at 5D in Figure l, may be quickly-changed from one type of door to another; Thus for example, the opening 5G maybe closed with a metal panel if desired. Alternatively, the entire opening may be glazed with a single piece of glass. If preferred it may be glazed with two pieces of glass separated by the horizontal muntin bar 55, or it may be glazed with four pieces of glass separated in equal parts by the horizontal muntin b ar and the vertical muntin bar 15.

ill)

While the detailed construction of the muntin bars and the means for attaching them in the opening 5D have been illustrated in conjunction with a door, it will of course be apparent that similar construction would be available for a window or any type of closure desired.

Furthermore, consideration of the foregoing will make it apparent that the muntin bars may be removed without leaving any trace on the door structure so that a single door may be converted from one type to another and back again without dijculty.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute av description of the improved steel door construction in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I'claim as my invention is:

l. Closure structure having means providing for different arrangements of muntin bars comprising a frame having an opening provided with an inwardly facing groove around the inside of said opening,v means at the bottom of said groove located at positions where muntin bars may be desiredl providing pairs of shoulders extending transversely across the groove, muntin bars of a length to t across said frame, and slidable locking elements carried by said muntin bars at the ends thereof and movable beyond the ends thereof to enter the groove and to engage said shoulders.

2,. Closure structure having means providing for different arrangements of muntin bars comprising a frame having an opening provided with an inwardly facing groove around the inside of said opening, said groove having openings at the bottom of said groove located at positions where muntin bars may ber desired providing pairs of shoulders` extending transversely across the groove, muntin bars of a length to t across said frame, and slidable locking elements carried by said muntin bars at the ends thereof and movable beyond the ends thereof to enter the groove and to engage said shoulders.

3. Closure4 structure having means providing for different arrangements of muntin bars comprising a frame having an opening provided with an inwardly facing groove around the insidev of said opening, means at the bottom of said groove located at positions where muntin bars may be desired providing pairs of transverse shoulders, hollow'muntin bars of a length to fit across said frame, and slidable locking elements in said muntin, bars at the en ds of said muntin bars movable beyond the ends thereof to enter the groove and to engage said shoulders.

4. Muntin bar structure comprising a hollow barhaving a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending flangesalong oneside, slidable attaching clips inv said bar having a rst portion slidable longitudinally within said bar and guided for` slidable movement thereby and a second portion located between said flanges, said second portion provided with a reduced extension movablebeyond the endof said bar.

5. Muntin bar structure comprising a hollow barl having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinallyextending flanges along one side, slidable attaching clips in said bar having a first portion slidable longitudinally within said bar and guided for slidable movement thereby and a second portion-locatedbetween said flanges, said second portion provided with a reduced extension movable beyond@ thefend of said? bar, and a cover having,v

a slot in one wall shaped to receive the flanges of said bar to dene with said bar and flanges a glazing groove.

6. Muntin bar structure comprising a hollow bar having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending flanges along one side, slidable attaching clips in said bar having a first portion slidable longitudinally within said bar and guided for slidable movement thereby and a second portion located between said flanges, said second portion provided with a reduced extension movable beyond the end of said bar, and transverse openings in said flanges for receiving the reduced extensions of other attaching clips to provide for crossed muntins in the opening.

7. Closure structure having means providing for different arrangements of muntin bars comprising a frame having an opening provided with an inwardly facing groove around the inside of said opening, means at the bottom of said groove located at positions where muntin bars may be desired providing pairs of shoulders extending transversely across the groove, muntin bars of a length to t across said frame, and locking elements carried by said muntin bars and slidable longitudinally thereon between a first position in which said elements do not extend substantially beyond the adjacent ends of said muntin bars and a second locking position in which said elements extend beyond the adjacent ends of said muntin bars to enter said groove and to engage between said shoulders.

8. Closure structure having means provided for different arrangement of muntin bars comprising a frame having an aperture provided with an inwardly facing groove around the inside of said aperture, openings at the bottom of said groove located at positions where muntin bars may be desired, muntin bars hollow in cross-section and of a length to fit across said aperture, and locking elements provided with a main body portion and a portion extending longitudinally of said bar, said locking elements adapted to slide in the hollows of said muntin bars and to be held in position by a friction fit, said extending portion extending into the opening at the bottom of said groove, and means on said elements providing an abutment for exerting force to retract said extending portion from the opening and groove to allow the muntin bars to be removed from the frame.

9. Closure structure having means providing for different arrangements of muntin bars comprising a frame having an opening provided with an inwardly facing groove around the inside of said opening, a muntin bar of a length to extend across said opening, means at the ends of said muntin bar for supporting said muntin bar in position in said opening, the means at at least one end of said muntin bar comprising a locking element carried by said muntin bar and slidable longitudinally with respect thereto, said element including a portion shaped to enter said groove to support said muntin bar in said opening, said element being slidable between a retracted position in which said element does not extend substantially beyond the adjacent end of said muntin bar and a locking position in which said element extends beyond the end of said muntin bar to be received in said groove.

10. Structure as defined in claim 9 in which said muntin bar is hollow and open at said one end, and said locking element is slidable within the open end of said bar.

11. Structure as defined in claim 10 in which said locking element has a frictional t within said muntin bar.

12. Structure as defined in claim 11 in which said muntin bar has an elongated opening along one side and said locking element has means exposed in said opening for exerting force on said element longitudinally of said muntin bar to slide said element between retracted and locking position.

13. Structure as defined in claim 9 in which said groove has shoulders extending transverse- 1y at the bottom thereof between which portions of said locking element are received to prevent shifting of said muntin bar longitudinally of said groove.

14. Structure as defined in cl-aim 13 in which said shoulders are provided by an opening through the bottom wall of said groove.

15. Structure as defined in claim 13 in which said shoulders are provided by ears struck up from the bottom wall of said groove.

16. Closure structure having means providing for different arrangements of muntin b-ars comprising a frame having an opening provided with an inwardly facing groove around the inside of said opening, a muntin bar assembly comprising a hollow bar open at its end and having spaced flanges at one side defining a longitudinally extending opening therebetween, a locking element slidably received in the open end of said bar, said element being slidable between a retracted position in which said element does not extend beyond said bar and a locking position in which said element extends beyond the end of said bar to be received in said groove, said element having means exposed through the longitudinally extending opening between said spaced anges for exerting force on said element to slide said element longitudinally of said bar, and a cover releasably carried by the spaced flanges of said bar to define with said bar a glazing groove and adapted to cover and conceal the portion of said locking element otherwise exposed through the opening defined by the spaced flanges of said bar.

CLYDE W. KELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 811,072 Lieb Jan. 30, 1906 997,677 Ivey July 11, 1911 1,240,193 Fromhold Sept. 18, 1917 1,232,710 Paeth Oct. 22, 1918 1,987,498 Stolp Jan. 8, 1935 2,043,174 Jacobson June 2, 1936 2,104,430 MacEvoy Jan. 4, 1938 2,322,700 Mussey June 22, 1943 2,351,127 Hodson June 13, 1944 2,445,428 Goldberg July 20, 1948 

